Friday 26th April 2024,

Top 10 Centers of the 1970’s

Rob August 30, 2011 Blogs, R.S. De France No Comments

August 30, 2011 – R.S. De France

The Hoop Doctors continue looking back at the greatest centers in NBA history, decade by decade, with the 1970’s:

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
Drafted 1975	In 1970’s: Games 299 Points 5266 17.6 ppg Rebounds 2649 8.8 rpg Steals 412 1.37 spg Blocks 329 1.1 bpg	Career: 14.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 spg, and 78.8% FT’s 1 NBA Finals 3 Western Conference Finals 1976 ROY 1976 All-Star Best Season: 19.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.5 spg, and 1.5 bpg 9x playoffs (3x in 70’s) 0-2 in playoffs v great centers (Cowens & Sikma)

Teamed with guard Paul Westphal, Adams led the Phoenix Suns to the 1976 NBA Finals, where they lost in 6 games to Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, and the Boston Celtics. This series included the historic triple-overtime game 5, in which Dave Cowens scored 26 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the Celtics, while Adams scored 20 points and corralled 9 rebounds for the Suns.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
Drafted 1963	In 1970’s: Games 622 Points 9,183 14.7 ppg Rebounds 8,464 13.6 rpg Blocks 553 2.1 bpg	Career: 15 ppg, 15 rpg, 2.1 bpg, and 2.7 apg 3 Conference Finals in 1970’s 7x All-Star (3x in 70’s) Best Season (1968): 20.5 ppg, 22.0 rpg, and 4.2 apg Best Years: 1965-1974 9x playoffs (7x in 70’s) 2-6 in playoffs v great centers (1-1 v Wilt)

Thurmond was one of the best rebounders and shot blockers of the decade.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
rafted 1974	In 1970’s: Games 209 Points 3,578 17.1 ppg Rebounds 2,822 13.5 rpg Assists 923 4.4 apg Blocks 533 2.5 bpg	Career: 13.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 3.4 apg, and 52.1% FG’s 2x NBA Champion 1977 & 1986 1977 Finals MVP 1978 MVP 1986 6th Man of the Year 2x All-Star (70’s) Best Years: 1976-1978 Best Season: 18.6 ppg, 14.4 rpg, 3.2 bpg, 3.8 apg, and 1.0 spg Led NBA in: rpg, bpg, and defensive rating (2x, 70’s and 80’s) 4x playoffs (‘77, ‘78, ‘86, ‘87) Playoffs 3-2 v great centers (swept Jabbar 4-0 in 1977 playoffs)

Walton was one of the most dominant centers in the NBA, and he was highly skilled in scoring, passing, and rebounding. Devastated by foot injuries, Walton would be unable to produce more than a few amazing seasons.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
NBA Debut 1959	Games 339 Points 5,985 17.6 ppg Rebounds 6,524 19.2 rpg Assists 1461 4.3 apg	Career: 30.1 ppg (31,419 points), 22.9 rpg (23,924 rebounds), 4.4 apg, and 54% FG’s 1972 NBA Champion 1972 Finals MVP 13x All-Star (4x in 70’s) Best Years: 1960-1968 Led NBA in FG% 9x, rebounds 11x, points 7x, PER (Player Efficiency Rating) 8x All-time: 1st Rebounds, 4th in points, 2nd in ppg, 1st in rpg, and 5th in PER 13x playoffs (5x in 70’s) Playoffs 4-4 v great centers (1-2 v Reed)

After Chamberlain dominated the 1960’s, the 1970’s saw Wilt take on the role of defender and rebounder more fervently than ever before in his quest for that elusive 1972 NBA title.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
Drafted 1968	Games 839 Points 9,323 11.1 ppg Rebounds 12,002 14.3 rpg Steals 511 0.6 spg	Career: 10.8 ppg, 14.0 rpg, and 3.9 apg 1978 NBA Champion 1978 Finals MVP 1969 MVP 1969 ROY 5x All-Star Best Season (1969): 13.8 ppg, 18.2 rpg, and 2.6 apg Led NBA in FG% 1976) 11x playoffs (every year of 1970’s) Playoffs 7-9 v great centers (1-5 v Reed)

Undersized for his position, Unseld found a way to be an intimidating force under the basket. Not only was Unseld one of the most consistent rebounders of the decade, he was one of the game’s best outlet passers.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
Drafted 1972	Games 525 Points 14,405 27.4 ppg Rebounds 6,421 12.2 rpg Blocks 872 1.66 bpg Steals 529 1.0 spg	Career: 22.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.0 spg, 2.3 apg, 75.4% FT’s, and 50.3% FG’s 2x NBA Champion 1982 & 1985 1975 MVP 1973 ROY 5x All-Star Best Season (1975): 34.5 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 1.1 spg (37.4 ppg in playoffs) Best Years: 1974-1978 Led NBA in Points and ppg 3 consecutive years 9x playoffs (4x in 70’s) Playoffs 0-3 v great centers (0-2 Cowens)

Bob McAdoo was not only one of the very best scorers and shooters, but he was one of the best overall defenders of the decade.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
Drafted 1970	Games 644 Points 14686 22.8 ppg Rebounds 7,690 11.9 rpg Assists 2,134 3.3 apg Blocks 799 1.2 bpg	Career: 20.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.5 bpg, 51.4% FG’s, and 76.7% FT’s 1974 All-Star Game MVP 8x All-Star (7x in 70’s) Best Years: 1972-1978 Best Season (1974): 22.5 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 3.0 bpg, and 79.7% FT’s 9x playoffs (4x in 70’s) Playoffs: No significant matchups with great centers

Dave Cowens described Lanier best when he said that “[Lanier] put the fear of God in you.” Overall, Lanier was an amazing player with a soft touch from the outside, and he did everything else: intimidate, rebound, score, and block shots.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
Drafted 1970	Games 660 Points 12,252 18.5 ppg Rebounds 9,636 14.6 rpg	Career: 17.6 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.1 spg, and 78.3% FT’s 2x NBA Champion 1974 & 1976 1973 MVP 1973 All-Star Game MVP 1971 ROY 7x All-Star Best Years: 1971-1978 Avg. 16.2 rpg (1973) 7x playoffs (6x in 70’s) Playoffs 6-3 v great centers (2-0 v McAdoo)

Cowens’ scoring, rebounding, defense, and passing helped lead a strong cast of Boston Celtics to two NBA titles in the 1970’s.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
Drafted 1964	Games 335 Points 6132 18.3 ppg Rebounds 4147 12.3 rpg	Career: 18.7 ppg, 12.9 ppg, and 1.1 bpg 2x NBA Champion 1970 & 1973 1970 & 1973 Finals MVP’s 1970 MVP 1970 All-Star Game MVP 7x All-Star (3x 70’s) Best Years: 1965-1971 7x playoffs (5x 70’s) Playoffs 10-4 (5-1 v Unseld and 2-1 v Wilt)

Reed’s historic playoff moment:

Even though the New York Knicks of the 1970’s were built around effective team play, Reed was their centerpiece. He was a dominant center who gave you 20 points and 14 rebounds on any given night, and he was tough and skilled enough to mix it up with legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

ABOUT	STATISTICS	NOTES
Drafted 1969	Games 773 Points 22,141 28.6 ppg Rebounds 11,460 14.8 rpg Assists 3440 4.4 apg	Career: 24.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 3.6 apg, 55.9% FG’s, 72.1% FT’s 6x NBA Champion (1x in 70’s) 6 MVP’s (5 in 70’s) 1971 Finals MVP 1985 Finals MVP 1970 ROY 19x All-Star (8x in 70’s) Best Years: 1970-1980 Best ppg 34.8 (‘71-‘72) Best bpg 4.1 (‘75-‘76) Best rpg 16.9 (‘75-‘76) Best apg 5.4 (‘78-‘79) Avg. 3.8 bpg in playoffs (‘79-‘80) All-time Records: 1st all-time in points, 3rd in rebounds, 12th in FG%, 3rd in blocks, 15th in ppg, 23rd in rpg, 8th in bpg, and 12th in PER 18 playoffs (8x in 70’s) Playoffs 5-7 v great centers (1-1 v Wilt)

Great Jabbar highlights:

Although Jabbar won more titles in the 1980’s when he teamed up with Magic Johnson in a Los Angeles Lakers’ uniform, Jabbar dominated the 1970’s in terms of scoring, awards, and even blocks. He was just simply amazing!

ABA Greats
Dan Issel “The Horse”
Elvin Hayes “The Big ‘E’” F/C
Artis Gilmore “The A-Train”
Mel Daniels

Honorable Mention

Billy Paultz “The Whopper”
Jerry Lucas
George McGinnis PF/C
Caldwell Jones
Truck Robinson
Elmore Smith
Sam Lacey
Rudy LaRusso
Bill Russell
Billy Cunningham
Bill Bridges
Walt Bellamy
Dave Robisch
Mike Green “Count”
Connie Hawkins “The Hawk” PF/C
Paul Silas
Clifford Ray
Sidney Wicks F/C
Bob Kauffman
Lloyd Neal
Leroy Ellis
Neal Walk
Zelmo Beaty
Jim Chones
Darnell Hillman “Dr. Dunk”
Swen Nater
Mel Counts “Goose”
Fred Hetzel
“Big Game” Les Hunter
Trooper Washington
Lonnie Shelton
Jim Fox
Tom Owens
Cincinnatus Powell
John Beasley
Rich Jones
Gene Moore
Spencer Haywood F/C
Bob “Golden” Rule

Rob S. De France is a College and University instructor of English Composition living in Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Writing. De France has played, coached, and officiated competitive high school basketball in California for many years. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.